About the Church
The Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist in Liepna stands in the settlement of Liepna, in Alūksne Municipality, north-eastern Latvia. It belongs to the Diocese of Rēzekne–Aglona and is one of its northernmost parishes.
The first wooden chapel here was built in 1754. In 1862 the tsarist authorities closed the church and handed it over to the Orthodox; it was returned to Catholics in 1921, together with 15 hectares of land. The earlier building burned down in July 1944.
The present single-nave wooden church was fitted out in 1945–1947 from a relocated dwelling house by the priest Jānis Svilāns. The church is 11 metres long and 9 metres wide, and has a harmonium.
The first wooden chapel here was built in 1754. In 1862 the tsarist authorities closed the church and handed it over to the Orthodox; it was returned to Catholics in 1921, together with 15 hectares of land. The earlier building burned down in July 1944.
The present single-nave wooden church was fitted out in 1945–1947 from a relocated dwelling house by the priest Jānis Svilāns. The church is 11 metres long and 9 metres wide, and has a harmonium.